GPA stands for grade point average. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points earned by the number of classes or credits attempted. Grades are typically assigned a point value—A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0—with the GPA score itself ranging from zero to 4.0. In some districts, grades in higher-level classes are given a higher point value (e.g., an A might be worth 5 points instead of 4), meaning a student could have a GPA higher than 4.0, commonly referred to as a “weighted” GPA. The GPA is an important factor in college admission.
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